Garment or ironing press



July 17, 1934. AV 1,967,023

' GARMENT on IRONING PRESS Original Filed July 11, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1S:- INVENTOR.

I 14 By f6 for O 449% m 9 L,

. a /5 ATTORNEY5.

July 17, 1934. E. DAVIS GARMENT 0R IRQNING PRESS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Original Filed July 11, 1930 \\..liT.4l.Y.l..,/..d,. llllllll J3 KINVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS July 17, 1934. DAV|5 1,967,023

GARMENT OR IRONING PRESS Original Filed July 11, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Ml T INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY5 M 17, 1934. DAV 1,967,023

GARMENT OR IRONING PRESS OriginalFiled July 11, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4July 17, 1934. E. DAvl 1,967,023

GARMENT OR IRONING PRESS Original Filed July 11, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVEN TOR.

A TTORNEY Patented July 17, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE GARMENT ORIRONING PRESS Application July 11, 1930, Serial No. 467,214 Renewed May2, 1933 19 Claims.

This invention relates to pressing machines such as garment and laundryor ironing presses, of the type having a plurality of bucks and a singlepressing head, the bucks being movable successively into position forcooperative pressing action with the head.

An object of the invention is to provide a pressing machine,particularly adaptable for use as a shirt press, having a plurality ofbucks mounted on supporting means which are so connected to the pressingmachine frame that the bucks will be always maintained in parallelpositions.

A further object of the invention is to provide h pressing machinehaving a plurality of bucks arranged with their long dimensionsextending forwardly and rearwardly so that the operator stands at oneend of the bucks, instead of at the side as in the conventional pressingmachine.

A further object is to provide a pressing machine having the bucksarranged with their long dimensions extending forwardly and rearwardlyand with a neck band holding means arranged at the rear end of eachbuck, and means at the front end of each buck for operating the neckband holding means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pressing machinehaving a plurality of bucks which are movable successively intocooperative relation with a single pressing head, and to provideoperating means for moving the bucks and operating the pressing head andcontrol means so arranged that it is impossible to operate any of theparts when cooperative parts are not located in the correct positions.

' Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out andwill become apparent as the description proceeds.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all.the views.

Figure l is a side view showing the relation of the head and buck in myimproved pressing machine together with the operating mechanism for thepressing head.

Figure 2 is a top view of the pressing machine shown in Figure 1,illustrating the movement of the bucks.

Figure 3 is a front View of the bucks and buck supporting means of themachine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail view showing the neck band clamp and the operatingmeans therefor.

Figure 5 is a detail view of one form of safety mechanism to insureproper centering of the bucks under the pressing head.

Figure 6 is a detail view, partly in section, of a modified form ofsafety mechanism to insure proper centering of the bucks under thepressing head together with means for locking the bucks in centeredposition.

Figure '7 is a top plan View, partly in section, of the mechanism shownin Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a view showing the arrangement and relation of the variousoperating means controlled by devices in my improved pressing machine.

Figure 9 is a view showing a modified arrange ment of the operatingmeans of the control devices such as shown in Figure 8.

General layout of press The general layout of my improved press is verysimilar, except for the arrangement of the bucks, to the conventionalpressing machine of the type using a movable pressing head. A press head1 is mounted on a yoke 2 which is pivoted at 3 to a back leg 4 of apressing machine frame 5. The yoke is operated to open and close thepress by suitable mechanism such as a link 6 pivoted to the yoke at 7and to a lower link member 8 at 9. The link member 8 is operated by aconnecting link 10 which is pivoted at 11 to the piston rod of a motor12. Operation of the fluid motor moves the connecting link 10 which isguided by a pin 13, rigidly secured to the connecting link 10, andslidable in a cam slot 14. The link members 6 and 8 form a toggle whichis straightened by the movement of the connecting link 10. A lever 15 ispivoted to the frame of the pressing machine at a midpoint and to thelink member 8 at one end and at the other end to the member in which thecam slot 14 is formed. The operation of this link and cam assembly is togive the motor 12 an enormous mechanical advantage on the yoke 2. Thisoperating mechanism forms no part per se of the present invention andany other suitable means may be used to operate the yoke 2 to open andclose the press.

Two bucks 20 and 21 are mounted on suitable supporting means designatedgenerally as 23. These buck supporting means are pivoted to the pressingmachine frame, are pivoted to the bucks, and are so constructed that thebucks will move or have a parallelogrammatic action so as to alwaysoccupy parallel positions. The construction of the buck supporting meanswill be described later.

A novel feature of my improved pressing machine is the mounting of thebucks in position with the long dimensions extending forwardly andrearwardly so that the operator stands at one end of the buck and infront of the machine instead of adjacent the long side of the buck,which is usually at the front of the machine in the conventionalconstruction of press. My invention in its preferred embodiment isashirt pressing machine and means designated generally as are providedfor clamping the neck bands of shirts. A handle 26 at the end of eachbuck, within convenient reach of the operator, controls the neck bandclamp in a manner later to be described.

Buck supporting means Each of the bucks is supported by suitable bucksupporting means which include preferably parallel arms 30 and 31pivoted at 32 and 33 respectively to the pressing machine frame. The

, parallel arms 30, 31 are pivoted to the buck at 34 and 35respectively. An important point in connection with the pivotalconnections of the parallel arms 30, 31 is the fact that the pivotalconnections with the frame are spaced apart,

., and the pivotal connections with the buck, also spaced apart so thatas the buck is moved and the parallel arms turned on their pivotalconnections, they will always hold the buck in parallel positions. Anyconstruction by which the parallelogrammatic action of the bucks may beobtained is contemplated.

A stop member 38 depending from one of the parallel arms, such as theparallel arm 30, strikes against abutments 39 to stop the buck when itmoves into proper position under the pressing head for cooperativepressing action with the head 1.

The buck supporting means for both bucks 20 and 21 are similar inconstruction. A tie bar 40 holds the buck supporting means for the buck20 in a constantly spaced relation with respect to the buck supportingmeans for the buck 21. As a result of this tie-bar 40, the stop member38, which is attached to the parallel arm 30, stops the travel of bothof the bucks when they are moved to the right in Figure 2 and the stopmember 38 comes into contact with the abutments 39. A stop member 41 onthe buck supporting means for the buck 21 acts in a similar manner, whenit comes against the abutments 39, to limit the travel of both buckswhen they are moved to the left in Figure 2.

The stop members 38 and 41 may be provided with abutment screws 42 (seeFigure '7). The purposeof these abutment screws is to make the "positionof the buck supporting means adjustable, when it comes into contact withthe abutments 39. The adjustment is regulated so that the buck will beproperly centered with respect to the pressing head when the abutmentscrews -42 of the stop member 33 or 41 come into contact with theabutments 39. The abutments 39 may themselves be made adjustable insteadof providing adjustable abutment screws 42 on the stop members 38 and41.

Neck band clamping means Each buck is provided with suitable neck bandclampingmeans designated generally as 25. The

,- clamping means is of the conventional type and includes a band format secured to the buck and a band clamp 51 movable into and out ofclamping relation with the fixed form 50. The neck band clamping meansis operated by a handle 26 located at the forward end of the buck. Thehandle 26 is of bell crank formation, here shown as mounted for verticalmovement, and connects by means of a link 53 with a bell crank 54, whichoperates the band clamp 51 through the bell crank 55 and connecting link56 shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The particular linkage used tooperate the neck band clamp is unimportant but the use of a handlelocated at the end of a buck, instead of at the side, has not previouslybeen used on pressing machines.

Buck centering before pressing With a machine having movable bucks, itis highly important that the buck be properly centered under thepressing head before bringing the head into pressing contact. In themachine illustrated in the drawings, the control mechanism is soarranged that it is impossible to operate the actuating mechanism whichbrings the pressing head into contact With the buck unless the buck isproperly centered with respect to the pressing head.

Figures 2 and 8 illustrate one method of constructing the controlmechanism to obtain this result. A gear quadrant 60 rigidly secured to aportion of the buck supporting means, such as the parallel arm 31,meshes with a pinion gear 61. The pinion gear 61 is mounted on a shaft62 which forms the spindle of a fluid supply valve 63. The valve 63controls the supply of working fluid which operates the motor means tobring the pressing head into contact with a buck. The valve 63 is sopositioned with respect to the pinion 61 and gear quadrant 60 that thevalve will be in open position only when a buck is properly centeredunder the pressing head.

Figures 6 and '7 illustrate a modified form of control means to insurecentering of a buck under the pressing head before closing the press. Inthis form of the invention, the parallel arms 31 are provided with camsurfaces 65 which operate followers 66. Two sliding blocks 67 areprovided on the pressing machine frame. These blocks 67 are slidablymounted in suitable guides 68. Each of the sliding blocks 67 is providedwith a link member 69 on which the cam follower 66 is mounted. The camsurfaces are so arranged that when the buck supporting means are swungso as to center the buck 21 under the pressing head, the one cam surface65 will move the sliding blocks 67 in one direction, as shown in Figure7. When the buck supporting means are swung the other way so as tocenter the buck 20 under the pressing head, the other cam surface, shownin Figure 7, will cause the sliding blocks 67 to move in the oppositedirection. Each of the sliding blocks 67 is provided with a hole 70therein.

A control handle 71, illustrated in Figure 6, must be operated beforeworking fluid can be supplied to the motor means to operate theactuating means to close the press. The relation of the handle 71' tothe other control mechanism will be later described, but for the purposeof understanding the buck centering operation sufficient structure isshown in Figure 6. Three cam members '72, 73 and '74 are pivotallymounted on brackets depending from the pressing machine frame. All ofthese cam members are pivotally attached at their lower ends to anoperating bar 76. The operating bar 76 is attached by suitable means tothe control handle 71 which is used to move the operating bar 76 to theright or left as viewed in Figure 6. A centering pin 77 is slidablymounted in the pressing machine frame and is provided at its lower endwith a cam follower 78. A spring 79 normally holds the centering pin 77in a lowered position with the cam follower 78 in contact with the cammember'72. The control handle 71 is operated to move the operating bar76 to the left to cause the centering pin 77 to rise. Unless one of t-esliding blocks 67 is in proper position so that the hole 70 thereinregisters with the centering pin 77, it will be impossible for thecentering pin 77 to rise. Thus the handle 71 cannot be operated to movethe operating bar 76 to the left unless one of the bucks is in properposition under the pressing head, at which time one of the slidingblocks 67 will be in position so that the hole 70 therein registers withthe centering pin 77.

The stop member 41' as illustrated in Figures 6 and '7 is a modifiedform from that shown in the other figures of the drawings, and isprovided with angle extensions 80, each having a hole 81 therein.Locking pins 82 are slidably mounted in the frame of the pressingmachine, as shown in Figure 6. Each of these locking pins is providedwith a cam follower 83 at its lower end and is normally held in loweredposition by a spring 84. The cam follower 83 operates on the cam members73 and 74. When a buck is properly centered under the pressing head theholes 81 in the angle extensions will register with the looking pins 82.When the control handle 71 is operated to move the operating bar 76 tothe left in Figure 6, the cam members 73 and 74 will operate the camfollowers 83 and cause the locking pins 82 to engage in the holes 81 ofthe angle extensions 80 and thus lock the buck supporting means in itscentered position. The locking means include therefore cooperatingengaging means carried upon each buck and in fixed position upon theframe which interengage when the buck has been moved into proper oraligned position with respect to the head.

In the modifications shown in Figures 6 and 7 adjustable abutment screws42 are provided on the stop member 41 so that the stop member 41 will bestopped by the abutments 39 in exactly the proper position. If thecontrol handle 71 is then operated to move the locking pins 82 intoengagement with the holes 81 in the angle extensions 80 of the stopmember 41', the buck supporting means is insured against displacement,and the buck is exactly centered for operation of the press.

Power control mechanism (Figure 9 modificatz'on) One form of powercontrol mechanism for my improved pressing machine is shown in Figure 9.The opening and closing movement of the press is operated by the fluidmotor 12. The swinging of the buck supporting means is operated by fluidmotors 90, 91. Working fluid is supplied from a supply line 93 throughsuitable connecting pipes, as shown in Figure 9, to the valve casings94, 95 and 96.

The valve casing 96 contains a normally closed intake valve 97 connectedby a stem 98 to a normally open exhaust valve 99. A pipe 100 con.-

nects with the interior of the valve casing 96 at apoint midway betweenthe valves 97 and 99.

'The valves in the valve casing 9'5 are operated by a push button 101through a bell crank 102 and rocker arm 103 which contacts with the stem104 of the exhaust valve 99. The valves are locked in operated positionby supplying air to the diaphragm chamber 105 to cause the diaphragmtherein to hold the plunger 106 against the rocker arm 108 so as to holdit in operated position.

The valve chambers 94 and 95 contain intake valves 97 and 97respectively, these valves being rigidly connected by stems 98 and 98with exhaust valves 99 and 99 respectively. A pipe 110 connects thevalve casing 94, at a point intermediate the valves 97 and 99 with thefluid motor 91. A pipe 11.1 connects the valve casing 95, at a pointintermediate the valves 97 and 99 with the fluid motor 90. The Valves inthe valve chambers 94 and 95 are operated by a control handle 112 whichis pivoted at 113 to a suitable bracket 114. One end of the handle 112is connected by resilient link members 115 and 116 with the stem of theexhaust valves in the valve chambers 95 and 94 respectively. When thecontrol handle 112 is in the full line position shown in Figure 9. itwill close the exhaust valve 99 and open the intake valve 97 in thevalve chamber 95. The spring 117 in the valve casing 94 will normallyhold the intake valve 97 closed and the exhaust valve 99 open. When thecontrol handle 112 is locked into the dotted line position shown inFigure 9, the link memher 116 will force the exhaust valve 99 in thevalve casing 94 closed and the intake valve 9''! open. Movement of thecontrol handle'112 into the dotted line position will permit the spring117 in the valve casing 95 to close the intake valve 97 and open theexhaust valve 99.

To obtain two hand control, that is, to force the operator to use bothhands to close the press, the valve chamber 120 is provided. This valvechamber contains an exhaust valve 121 which may be moved into closedposition by the push button 122 operating through the bell crank 123 androcker arm 124 which contacts with the stem of the exhaust valve 121.The exhaust valve 121 may be locked in closed position by supplying airpressure behind the diaphragm in the diaphragm chamber 125 to hold theplunger 126 in contact with the rocker arm 124 to hold the rocker arm inoperated position.

The pipe 100 is provided with a branch 130v which connects with thevalve casing 120. A second branch 181 connects the pipe 100 with thefluid motor 12. As long as the exhaust valve 121 remains open air fromthe pipe 100 is free to escape through the branch 130 and valve cas-.ing 120. Only when the exhaust valve 121 is closed will the pressure inthe pipe 100 and branch 131 build up sufflciently to operate the fluidmotor 12.

A pipe 132, connected with the inlet end of the fluid motor 12,communicates with the valve casing 133. This valve casing contains anexhaust valve 134, which is urged into closed position by a spring 135,but which is held in open position by the cam member 74, which contactswith the stem of the exhaust valve 134 to hold it open at all timesexcept when the control handle 71 (see Figure 6) is operated to move theoperating bar 76 to the left. From the previous description of the Buckcentering before pressoperative engaging means of the locking meansprovided with an exhaust valve 134.

have interengaged which insures positive alignvment between the buck andhead. The pipe 132 and valve casing 133 provide an escape for theworking fluid, which will prevent suflicient pressure from building upin the cylinder of the fluid motor 12 to operate the same, unless a buckis properly centered under the pressing head and locked in position, sothat the exhaust valve 134 may close. The exhaust valve 134 maytherefore be viewed in two ways, namely, as a means controlled by thelocking means when the latter are in disengaged position for controllingthe actuation of the motor means and as a means associated with thelocking means and the control means to prevent actuation of the motormeans since the exhaust valve 134 is part of the motor control meanswhich controls motor 12.

The fluid motor 12 includes a piston 140 operating in a cylinder 141. Anorifice 142 is provided in the wall of the cylinder 141 at such alocation that the piston will uncover the orifice at substantially thesame time as the pressing head comes into contact with a buck. Theorifice 142 communicates with the pipe 143 and branch pipe 144 leadingto the diaphragm chambers 125 and respectively. Thus, when the piston140 uncovers the orifice 142, the working fluid behind the piston willpass through the pipe 143 and into branch pipe 144 to operate thediaphragms in the diaphragm chambers 125 and 105 respectively to lockthe valves in the valve casings 120 and 96 in their operated positions.

A pipe 150 communicating with the branch pipe 144, leads to a valvecasing 151 which is This exhaust valve is urged into closed position bya spring 135 but is held in open position by the cam member '73 whichcontacts with the stem of the exhaust valve 134' to hold the valve openat all times except when the control handle '71 (see Figure 6) isoperated to move the operating bar 76 to the left and thus rock the cammember 73 about its pivot point. From the previous description of theBuck centering before pressing, it is apparent that the exhaust valve134' in the valve casing 151 will be open at all times except when abuck is properly centered under the pressing head. As long as theexhaust valve 134 in the valve casing 151 is open, working fluid is freeto escape from the pipe 143 and branch pipe 144, through the pipe 150and valve casing 151, thus preventing sufficient pressure from buildingup in the pipe 143 and branch pipe 144 to operate the diaphragms in thediaphragm chambers 125 and 105 to lock the valves in the valve casings120 and 96 in operated position.

Operation of the press (Figure 9 modification) The operation of thepress, as shown in Figure 9, is as follows- The operator moves thehandle 112 to the right or left to operate the valves in the valvecasings 94 and 95 to supply working fluid to one of the fluid motors 91and 90. With the parts in the positions shown in Figure 9, the buck 21will be under the pressing head. Assuming that a pressing operation hasjust been completed and that the operator wishes to move the buck 21 outfrom under the pressing head and move the buck 20 into position for thenext pressing operation, he will move the control handle 112 from thefull line position shown in Figure 9 to the dotted line position. Thiswill cause the intake valve 97d in the valve casing 95 to close and theexhaust valve 99d to open. At the same time, the intake valve 970 in thevalve casing 94 will be opened and the exhaust valve 990 in the valvecasing 94 closed. Working fluid will now flow from the pipe 93 aroundthe open intake valve 970 in the valve casing 94 and through the pipe tooperate the fluid motor 91. The supporting means for the buck 21 will beoperated by the fluid motor 91 to move the buck 21 to the right into thedotted line position shown in Figure 2. Due to the tie bar 40 whichconnects the buck supporting means, the movement of the buck supportingmeans for the buck 21 to the right will cause the buck supporting meansfor the buck 20 to also move to the right and operate the fluid motor 90on its exhaust stroke. Working fluid will be exhausted through the pipe111 and .valve casing 95, the exhaust valve 99d being open.

When. the fluid motor 91 has operated the buck supporting meanssufficiently to bring the cross member 38 into contact with theabutments 39 (see Figure 2), the fluid motor 91 will necessarily stopand hold the buck supporting means in this position. Operation of thepush buttons 101 and 122 to close the press at this time will be of noavail, since the exhaust valve 134 in the valve casing 133 is open andwill prevent suflicient pressure from building up in the cylinder 141 tooperate the fluid motor 12.

The buck 20 now being in proper position under the pressing head, theoperator will move the control handle '71 (see Figure 6) to move the op-1 crating bar 76 to the left. The cam members '72, 73 and 74 will berocked in a clockwise direction to cause the centering pin '77 to riseinto the hole 70 in the sliding block 67, and the locking pins 82 torise into the holes 81 in the angle extensions 80, thus locking the buck20 in centered position under-the pressing head. This movement of thecam members 73 and '74 will permit the springs 135 and 135 in the valvecasings 151 and 133 respectively to close the exhaust valves 134 and 134in the valve casings.

The push buttons 101 and 122 may now be operated to permit working fluidto flow from the supply pipe 93 through the valve casing 96, pipe 100,and pipe 131 to the fluid motor 12. Since the exhaust valve 121 and theexhaust valve 134 in the valve casing 133 are closed, pressure willimmediately build up in the pipe 131 and cylinder 141 to operate thepiston 140. The fluid motor will now actuate the actuating means,illustrated in Figure 1, to bring the pressing head 1 into contact withthe buck 20. At the time that the pressing head contacts with the buck,the piston 140 willuncover the orifice 142 in the wall of the cylinderand permit working fluid to enter the pipe 143 and pass through the pipe143 and branch pipe 144 and operate the diaphragms in the diaphragmchambers 125 and 105 to lock the valves in the valve casings and 96 inoperated position. The operator may now remove his hands from the pushbuttons 101 and 122 and the press will remain in closed position.

When the press is to be opened, the operator moves the control handle'71 (see Figure 6) so as to move the operating bar '76 to the right andcause the cam members 73 and 74 to open the exhaust valves 134 and 134in the valve casings 151 and 133 respectively. The opening of theexhaust valve 134 in the valve casing 151 releases the pressure behindthe diaphragms in the diaphragm chambers and 105 so that the valves inthe valve casings 120 and 96 are free to return to their normalpositions. When the exhaust valves 121 and 99 in the valve casings 120and 96 motor 12 through the pipes 131, and 100.

. the stern of the valve 161.

Power control mechanism (Figure 8) Figure 8 shows a slightly differentarrangement of the operating and control mechanism from that shown inFigure 9. The operation of the fluid motors 90 and 91 by the controlhandle 112 is exactly the same as described in connection with Figure 9except for the source of working fluid which is supplied to the valvecasings 9c, 95. Instead of supplying working fluid to these valvecasings 94, 95 directly from the supply line 93, the supply line 93communicates with a valve casing 160 which contains a normally openintake valve 161. A pipe 162 leads from the valve casing 160 to thevalve casings 94 and 95 to supply them with working fluid. The valvecasing 160 is provided with a diaphragm chamber 163 containing adiaphragm 164, which operates a head 165 secured to A spring 166normally holds head 165 in raised position so that the valve 161 isopen. When pressure is admitted to the diaphragm chamber 163 through apipe 1'70 which connects the diaphragm chamber 163 with the intake lineof the fluid motor 12, the diaphragm 164 will force the head 165downward against the urge of the spring 166 and close the valve 161,thus cutting oil the supply of working fluid from the pipe 93 to thevalve chambers 94 and 95. The purpose of this valve casing 160 and thevalve mechanism associated therewith is to render it impossible for theoperator to supply working fluid to the motors 90, 91 to shift the bucksupporting means, when the fluid motor 12 is operated to bring thepressing head into contact with a buck. This safety valve mechanismprovided in the valve casing 160 was not necessary with the modifiedoperating mechanism shown in Figure 9 because of the fact that the bucksupporting means were locked in centered position before the fluid motor12 could be operated to close the press. The valve mechanism in thevalve casing 160 is a substitute, from a safety point of view, for thelocking means used with the modified mechanism shown in Figure 9.

The means provided to prevent the operation of the fluid motor 12 toclose the press when a buck is not properly centered under the pressinghead, include a valve 63 and valve casings 63 and 63 together with theoperating mechanism next to be described. The valve 63 and the mechanismin the valve casings 63 and 63 are for the same purpose. It would bepossible therefore to construct the control mechanism without the valve63, or to employ this valve and omit the mechanism in the valve casings63 and 63 In the preferred embodiment of the invention all of thesemeans are included however, since the valve 63 becomes partially openbefore the buck is in proper position, and the mechanism in the valvecasings 63 and 63 may become stuck in open position. The use of thevalve 63 in combination with the mechanisms in the valve casings 63 and63* makes the proper control of air to the pipe 1'71 doubly secure.

The valve casings 63" and 63 contain normally closed intake valves 97and 97 respectively, which are rigidly connected by stems 98 and 98 tonormally open exhaust valves 99 and 99 The valves 99= and 99 are exhaustvalves of the same type-used in the other valve casings of the controlmechanism. These valves are not used as exhaust valves in the controlmechanism shown in Figure 8 but when the intake valve in either of thevalve casings 63 or 63 is opened the exhaust valve in that valve casingwill be pressed firmly against its seat and will prevent the escape ofworking fluid out of the valve casing through the opening in which thevalve stem operates. This makes it unnecessary to employ packing aroundthe valve stem where it passes through the valve casing. The exhaustports controlled by the valves 99 and 99* are obviously unnecessary inFigure 8, the valve assembly shown being of conventional design adaptedfor use in other locations. The valve casings 63 and 63 have pipes 171and 1'71 communicating therewith at a point intermediate the valves inthe respective valve casings. These valve casings 63 and 63 containcheck valves 1'72 and 172 to prevent back flow oi fluid from the pipes1'71 and 171 respectively. The check valve 1'72 is obviously necessaryto prevent working fluid supplied through. the valve casing 63 to thepipe 171 from passing down through the pipe 1'71", through the valvecasing 63*, and out through the open exhaust valve 99 Each of the stopmembers 38 and 41 functions also as a valve operating member in thepress using the operating mechanism illustrated in Figure 8. The stopmember 38 is shown in Figure 8 in contact with a Y-shaped lever 1'76which is pivoted at 177 to a suitable supporting bracket 178. TheY-shaped lever 1'76 operates a link 1'79 with which it has slidableengagement, as shown in Figure 8. The link 179 is pivoted at 180 to alink 181 which is pivoted at its lower end to a bracket 182. The pivotalconnection 180 is located between the valve casings 63 and 63 and whenthe Y-shaped lever 1'76 is rocked to the right in Figure 8, theconnecting links 1'79 and 181 will move into contact with the stem ofthe exhaust valve 99 of the valve casing 63 to close the exhaust valveand open the intake valve 97 A spring 183 associated with the link 1'79draws over center to hold the connecting links 179 and 181 in operatedposition against the stem of the exhaust valve 99 The spring 183 is notof suflicient strength, however, to hold the valves in the valve casings63 and 63 against the compression of the springs 11'7 and 1l'7 Unlesseither the stop member 38 or 41 is in contact with the Y-shaped lever1'76, the springs 11'7 and 11'7 will close the intake valves 9'7 and 97and open the exhaust valves 99 and 99 The stop member 38 on one of thebuck supporting means contacts with the Y-shaped lever 1'76 to operatethe valves in the valve casing 63 and the corresponding stop member 41on the other buck supportingmeans contacts with the other side of theY-shapedlever 1'76 to operate the valves in the valve casing 63 Since itis necessary for the intake valve in either the valve casing 63 or thevalve casing 63 to be open in order to obtain a supply of working fluidfor the motor 12, it is evident that the motor 12 cannot be operatedunless one or the bucks is centered under the pressing head so thateither the stop member 38 or the stop member 41 is in contact with theY-shaped lever 1'76.

. A valve 63 which is moved into open position by the revolution of theshaft 62 is so related with the operating mechanism of the shaft 62 thatthis valve 63 will be opened only when the parallel arm 30 is in theposition which it occupies when a buck is properly centered under thepress- .ing head.

The push buttons 101 and 122 and the associated valve mechanism throughwhich the operator controls the fluid motor 12 is essentially the samein the form shown in Figure 8 as in the modification described inconnection with Figure 9. The only difference that should be noted inconnection with this control is the method of relieving the pressurebehind the diaphragms in the diaphragm chambers 105 and 125. The valvesin the valve casings 120 and 96 are locked in operated position by theadmission of pressure into the diaphragm chambers through the pipes 143and 144 when the piston 140 uncovers an orifice in the wall of thecylinder, exactly as described in connection with Figure 9. Pressure inthese diaphragm chambers is relieved through a pipe 190 which leads fromthe pipe 143 to a valve casing 191 which contains a normally closedexhaust valve 192 held in position by a spring 193. This exhaust valve192 is opened to relieve the pressure in the diaphragm chambers, bymanipulating an operating handlle 195 which presses against the stem ofthe valve 192 to force it open against the compression of the spring193.

Operation of the press (Figure 8) The operation of the press, used inthe structure shown in Figure 8, is as follows:With the parts in theirfull line positions as shown in Figure 8, the buck 21 will be centeredunder the pressing head. Assuming that a pressing operationhas just beencompleted and that the operator wishes to move the buck 21 out fromunder the pressing head and into the dotted line position shown inFigure 2, he will move the control handle 112 into the dotted lineposition shown in Figure 8. Assuming that the press is in open position1 and that there is, therefore, no pressure in the cylinder of the fluidmotor 12 or in the pipe 170, the valve 161 in the valve casing 160 willbe open. Working fluid may therefore pass through the pipe '93, valvecasing 160, pipe 162, valve casing 94 and pipe 110 to the fluid motor91. This operation and the consequent movement of the bucks will beexactly as described in connection with Figure 9.

Operation of the push buttons 101 and 122 at any time before the buck 20has had time to move into properly centered position under the pressinghead will have no effect. This is because the intake valves in both thevalve casings 63 and 63 are closed and the valve 63 is also closed sothat no working fluid can enter the pipe 171 which supplies the valvecasings 96 and 120.

When the buck 20 comes into properly centered position under thepressing head, the gear quadrant segment 60 will have turned the pinion61 and the connected shaft 62 sufficiently to open the valve 63. Thevalve operating member 175, associated with-the supporting means of thebuck 20 will contact with the Y-shaped lever 176 and cause theconnecting levers 179 and 181 to operate the valves in the valve casing63 to close the exhaust valve 99 and open the intake valve 97 to supplyworking fluid from the supply line 93 through the valve 63, valve casing63 and pipe 1'71 to the valve casing 96.

Depression of the push buttons 101 and 122 will now cause air to besupplied to the fluid motor 12 to operate the same and cause the closingmovement of the press in exactly the same manner as described in Figure9.

While the buck is not locked in centered position as was the case withthe modification shown in Figures 6, 7 and 9, it is impossible for theoperator to swing the buck out of proper position after the fluid motor12 begins to close the press, since the pressure in the cylinder istransmitted through the pipe 170 to valve casing 160 and shuts off thesupply of working fluid for the fluid motors 90 and 91.

While I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, andcertain modifications thereof, various changes may be made in thedetails of construction without departing from the spirit of theinvention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A pressing machine including in combination a frame; a pressing headmounted on said frame; a buck movable into and out of position undersaid pressing head; a support for said buck including aplurality of armsof equal length pivoted at spaced apart points on the frame andpivotally connected at equally spaced apart points to the buck supportto obtain a parallelogrammatic action when the buck is moved into andout of position under the pressing head.

2. A pressing machine including in combination a frame; a pressing headmounted on said frame; a buck movable into and out of position undersaid pressing head; a support for said buck including a plurality ofarms of equal length pivoted at spaced apart points on the frame andpivotally connected at equally spaced apart points to the buck supportto obtain a parallelogrammatic action when the buck is moved into andout of position under the pressing head; and means for locking the buckin position with respect to the pressing head for cooperative pressingaction therewith.

3. A pressing machine including in combination a frame; a buck supportincluding a plurality of arms of equal length pivoted at spaced apartpoints on the frame and pivotally connected at equally spaced apartpoints to a buck supporting member to obtain a parallelogrammatic actionwhen the buck is moved with respect to the ing member to obtain aparallelogrammatic action when such buck is moved with respect to theframe; and a connecting link between said buck supporting means fortransmitting motion of one of said supporting means to the other of saidbuck supporting means.

4. A pressing machine including in combination -a frame; a buck supportincluding a plurality of arms of equal length pivoted at spaced apartpoints on the frame and pivotally connected at equally spaced apartpoints to a buck supporting member to obtain a parallelogrammatic'action when the buck is moved with respect to the frame; a second bucksupport including a plurality of arms of equal length pivoted at spacedapart points on the frame and pivotally connected at equally spacedapart points to a buck supporting member to obtain a parallelogrammaticaction when such buck is moved with respect to the frameya connectinglink between said buck supporting means for transmitting inoframe; apressing head mounted on the frame; a plurality of bucks; supportingmeans for the bucks pivotally mounted on the frame and including meansfor holding each buck in parallel positions during movement; and meansfor moving each buck successively into cooperative relation with thepressing head.

6. In a pressing machine in combination, a frame; a pressing headmounted on the frame; a plurality of bucks; supporting means for thebucks movably mounted on the frame and including means for holding eachbuck in parallel positions during movement; means for moving each bucksuccessively into position for cooperative pressing action with thepressing head; actuating means for moving the pressing head into contactwith the cooperative buck; and means to prevent operation of theactuating means when there is no buck positioned for proper cooperativepressing action with the pressing head.

7. In a pressing machine in combination, a frame; a pressing head; aplurality of bucks; supporting means for the bucks pivotally mounted onthe frame and including means for holding each in parallel positionsthroughout its range of movement; power means for moving the buckssuccessively into position under the pressing head; means for lockingeach buck in such position un der the pressing head; and means toprevent op eration of the locking means when the buck is not properlycentered with respect to the pressing head.

8. In a pressing machine in combination, a frame; a pressing head; aplurality of bucks; supo porting means for the bucks pivotally mountedon the frame and including means for holding each in parallel positionsthroughout its range of movement; power means for moving the buckssuccessively into position under the pressing head; actuc'j ating meansfor moving the pressing head into contact with the cooperative buck;motor means for operating the actuating means; and means to prevent theeffective flow of power to the motor means when a buck is not properlycentered with j respect to the pressing head for cooperative pressingaction therewith.

9. In a garment and laundry pressing machine, in combination, a frame; amovable head; a plurality of bucks arranged with their long dimensionsextending forwardly and rearwardly so that one end of each buck is infront of the frame and toward the operator; buck supporting meanspivotally mounted on the frame and operable to shift the buckstransversely to bring said bucks successively into central position withrespect to the head; and means for actuating the head toward and fromthe buck in central position.

10. In a garment and laundry pressing machine, in combination, a frame;a movable head;

a plurality of bucks arranged with their long dimensions extendingforwardly and rearwardlyso that one end of each buck is in front of theframe and toward the operator; buck supporting means pivotally mountedon the frame and operable to shift the bucks transversely to bring saidbucks successively into central position with respect to the head; neckband holding means mounted on each buck at the rear end thereof andshiftable therewith; and means at the front end 50; of each buck foroperating the neck band holding means.

11. A press including in combination, a frame;

a buck support pivotally connected to the frame;

a buck carried by the buck support; a second buck support pivotallyconnected to the frame; a buck carried by the second buck support; apress head pivotally mounted on the frame for press opening and closingmovements; and means for lock-- ing said buck supporting means inposition for cooperative pressing action of the respective buck with thepress head.

12. A garment or ironing press comprising a frame, a pressing headmounted on the frame, a pair of spaced buck supports of equal lengthpivotally mounted on the frame and upon opposite sides of the head, thebuck supports moving in parallel relation with each other and in thesame direction, a buck pivotally mounted on each buck support, and meansconnected with said bucks to obtain a parallelogrammatic action of thebucks when they are moved into and out of position under the pressinghead.

13. A garment or ironing press comprising a frame, a pressing headmounted on the frame, a pair of spaced buck supports of equal lengthpivotally mounted on the frame and upon opposite sides of the head, thebuck supports moving in parallel relation with each other and in thesame direction, a buck pivotally mounted on each buck support, meansconnected with said bucks to ob tain a parallelcgrammatic action of thebucks :hen they are moved into and out of position under the pressinghead, locking means includ-' ing cooperating engagin means carried byeach buck and by the frame in fixed position thereupon and interengagingonly upon one of the bucks being positioned with respect to the pressinghead for cooperative pressing action therewith;

14. A garment or ironing press comprising a frame, a pressing headmounted on the frame, a pair of spaced buck supports of equal lengthpivotally mounted on the frame and upon opposite sides of the head, abuck pivotally mounted on each buck support, means connected with saidbucks to obtain a parallelogrammatic action of the bucks when they aremoved into and out of position under the pressing head, locking meansincluding cooperating engaging means carried by each buck and by theframe in fixed position thereupon and interengaging only upon one of thebucks being positioned with respect to the pressing head for cooperativepressing action therewith, motor means operatively connected with thepressing head to actuate the same, control means for connecting themotor means with a source of power, and means controlled by the lockingmeans for controlling the actuation of the motor means.

15. A garment or ironing press comprising a frame, a pressing headmounted on the frame, a pair of spaced buck supports of equal lengthpivotally mounted on the frame and upon opposite sides of the head, abuck pivotally mounted on each buck support, means connected with saidbucks to obtain a parallelogrammatic action when the bucks are movedinto and out of position under the pressing head, locking meansincluding cooperating engaging means carried by each buck. and by theframe in fixed position thereupon and interengaging only when one of thebucks is positioned with respect to the pressing head for cooperativepressing action therewith, motor means operatively connected with thepressing head to actuate the same, control means for connecting themotor means with a source of power, and means associated with thelocking means and the control means to prevent actuation of the motormeans so long as the locking means are disengaged.

16. A garment or ironing press comprising a frame, a pressing headmounted on the frame, a pair of spaced bucks mounted on the frame andmovable into and out of pressing position under the press head, lockingmeans including cooperating engaging means carried by each buck and bythe frame in fixed position thereupon and interengaging only upon one ofthe bucks being positioned with respect to the pressing head forcooperative pressing action therewith, motor means operatively connectedwith the pressing head to actuate the same, control means for connectingthe motor means with a source of power, and means controlled by thelocking means for controlling the actuation of the motor means. 1'7. Agarment or ironing press comprising a frame, a pressing head mounted onthe frame, a pair of spaced buck supports of equal length pivotallymounted on the frame and upon opposite sides of the head, a buckpivotally mounted on each buck support, means connected with said bucksto obtain a parallelogrammatic action of the bucks when they are movedinto and out of position under the pressing head, locking meansincluding cooperating engaging means carried by each buck and by theframe in fixed position 18.'A garment or ironing press comprising aframe, a pressing head mounted on the frame, a pair of spaced bucksmounted on the frame and movable into and out of pressing position underthe pressing head, locking means including cooperating engaging meanscarried by each buck and by the frame in fixed position thereupon andinterengaging only upon one of the bucks being positioned with respectto the pressing head for cooperative pressing action therewith, motormeans operatively connected with the pressing head to actuate the same,control means for connecting the motor means with a source of power, andmeans associated with the locking means and the control means to preventactuation of the motor means so long as the locking means aredisengaged.

19. A garment or ironing press comprising a frame, a pressing headmounted on the frame, a pair of spaced bucks mounted on the frame andmovable into and out of pressing position under the pressing head,locking means including cooperating engaging means carried by each buckand by the frame in fixed position thereupon and interengaging only uponone of the bucks being positioned with respect to the pressing head forcooperative pressing action therewith, a fluid motor operativelyconnected with the pressing head to actuate the same, control means forconnecting the motor with a source of fluid pressure, an exhaust valveconnected with the motor, and means associated with the locking meansand the exhaust valve to hold the latter open so long as the lockingmeans are disengaged.

ERNEST DAVIS.

